• 5500 Merrick Road, Massapequa, New York 11758
  • 111 Grand Avenue, Massapequa, New York 11758
Physical Therapy in Massapequa

TMJ

Are you experiencing a stiff jaw lately? If so, you might have what’s known as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. At Park Physical Therapy in Massapequa, our therapists can help relieve your jaw pain through a series of special treatments. But before you come to us, be sure you read about the symptoms of the disorder beforehand.

While the causes of TMJ are hard to determine, one may get it from all sorts of factors including arthritis, injury, or even just genetics. If you have experienced a tear in the jaw, or are a long-time teeth grinder, you may be at risk for TMJ. TMJ can be quite painful to deal with, as some of the more common symptoms of TMJ include:

  • Pain or tenderness of your jaw
  • Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
  • Aching pain in and around your ear
  • Difficulty or pain while chewing
  • Aching facial pain
  • Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth

Some of the people more at risk for TMJ, include those with who have experienced severe jaw trauma, those with poorly positioned teeth, stress, poor posture, and people with a higher pain sensitivity. Women aged 18-44 also have an increased risk.

If you have been diagnosed with TMJ, depending on the severity of your condition, our physical therapists in Massapequa can show you a series of treatments that will relieve your jaw pain. If yours is caused by bad posture, we can help improve your posture through different exercises and movements. These types of exercises will eventually help bring the movement back into your jaw. If your TMJ is more severe, a series of ultrasounds can apply heat to the jaw and get it moving normally again. The pain can also be treated at home with over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen, and sleeping with a mouthguard.